The Tristesse Grief Center

The Tristesse Grief Center offers individual and group counseling sessions, special memorial events throughout the year, and programing in schools to children who are grieving. They also provide training and education to the community for people who want to better understand how to support people in grief.

Founded in 2002 The Tristesse Grief Center is named after 14 year old Tristesse Gonsalves died of cancer. Alissa Drescher, Program Director, describes Tristesse saying, “she was an insightful little girl who encouraged her mother to smile every day even after she died and to help other people who were grieving.” The organization is designed to serve those who may feel unsupported. Drescher explains that people typically shy away from addressing the needs of those who are grieving because they don’t know what to say or feel unequipped to help. The Tristesse Grief Center welcomes people to come and share their experience as they work through the grief experience with them. All of the groups at The Grief Center are loss specific and each person has one individual counseling session before joining a group so they can be matched with the most appropriate group. The fees are based on a sliding scale. Drescher says, “No one is turned away due to inability to pay. We work with people, we understand that during grief they can have some extra medical bills or funeral expenses and we find a payment that is comfortable for them so that they can come in and receive services.”

Saturday October 13 is the Tristesse Grief Center’s Hike For Healing event. Hike for Healing will be at Turkey Mountain in Tulsa and will include a balloon release, a memorial mile walk, a hike up turkey mountain, and a 5K. Registration is $20 and participants can register the morning of at Turkey mountain at 7:00 or they can pre-register online at thegriefcenter.org or call the grief center at 918-587-1200. Hike for Healing will begin at 7:30 a.m. Drescher says, “This event is going to be a great opportunity to memorialize a loved one, spend time together as a family in their honor, and support a great cause in The Grief Center.”

Financial donations are welcome to help The Grief Center offer their programs, Drescher suggests donating in honor of a loved one. Also, office supplies such as copy paper as well as tissues can be given to The Tristesse Grief Center. The Tristesse Grief Center is located at 3930 E. 31st Street in Tulsa. Monetary contributions can be given through their website.